HubMed - Electro Acupuncture
Influences of electro-acupuncture at related jing-well points in rats with vascular dementia.
J Tradit Chin Med. 2012 Jun; 32(2): 238-42
He F
To observe the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) at related Jing-well Points (HT 9, PC 9, KI 1 and LU 11) in rats with vascular dementia (VD) and discuss the relative mechanism.A randomized controlled animal experiment was designed. A total of 104 rats were involved in the present study and divided randomly into 4 groups: sham-operation group, model group, Jing-well Points group, and medication group. The VD model was established according to the modified 4-vessel occlusion (4-VO) method. VD rats in the Jing-well Points group were treated by EA at the related Jing-well Points (HT 9, PC 9, KI 1 and LU 11) while those in the medication group were treated with nimotop. The step-down avoidance test was performed before and after treatment in all rats. Latency and error frequency indexed memory function were recorded. Nitric oxide (NO) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in both cerebral tissue and serum were detected after the treatment course.A total of 42 rats were included in the final analysis. Compared with the model group, the latency in the Jing-well Points group was significantly prolonged (P < 0.01) and the error frequency was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) after therapy; the decrease in NO levels in both brain tissue and serum was significant (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively); and the increase in SOD activity was also significant (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in latency, error frequency, NO levels and SOD activity between the Jing-well Points group and medication group.EA at related Jing-well Points can remarkably improve memory impairment in VD rats. Moreover, decreasing the overproduction of NO and strengthening the ability of eliminating free radicals may provide therapeutic potential for the treatment of VD.
HubMed - Acupuncture
Reevaluating acupuncture research methods: comment on "A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of acupuncture in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)".
HubMed - holistic Health
Development of an instrument to determine competencies of postgraduate ICU nurses in Cyprus.
Nurs Crit Care. 2012 Sep; 17(5): 255-264
Hadjibalassi M, Papastavrou E, Lambrinou E, Tsangari H, Athini E, Georgiou E, Nicolaou E, Merkouris A
Aims and objectives: The study sought to explore the expected competencies for postgraduate intensive care unit nurses aiming to develop a future competency-based curriculum. The aim of this part of the study is to develop a new instrument to determine what competencies are expected of postgraduate critical care nurses. Background: Despite existing competency frameworks that emerged from research in the area of critical care, globally and within countries there is diversity and an ongoing debate regarding level of critical care education, outcomes and competencies acquired. Design and methods: A combination of qualitative and quantitative approach was used. In first stage (qualitative), focus groups and interviews were used aiming to explore critical care nurses views concerning expected competencies of postgraduate critical care nurses. In second stage (quantitative), an 81 items Likert scale questionnaire, which was designed based on qualitative data and literature, was distributed among critical care nurses in Cyprus (n: 234, response rate 66%) aiming to receive feedback from clinical nurses and validate the instrument. Psychometric approaches such as internal consistency reliability using Cronbach's α and construct validity were used to validate the instrument. Results: The final questionnaire includes 72 items and has a four-dimensional structure. The four dimensions are (1) leadership/management and professional development, (2) decision-making and management of emergencies, (3) provision of care and professional practice and (4) ethical practice. All factors were highly reliable, with Cronbach's α ranging from 0·895 to 0·974. Conclusions: A new instrument to determine what competencies are expected of postgraduate critical care nurses was generated from this study. A new framework of competencies is grounded on this study that addresses the holistic, individualized and ethically informed quality care of critically ill and may inform educational strategies. Relevance to clinical practice: Critical care nurses competencies need to be determined for quality care and speciality development.
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